A local beauty queen was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting Friday for allegedly taking a $69 shirt from the Dillard's at Sunland Park Mall.

El Paso police arrested Miss El Paso USA 2008 Lorena Tavera at 6:45 p.m. Friday after store employees reported the theft. The workers told police that Tavera, 21, took the shirt and hid it in a plastic shopping bag before walking out without paying for it.

Employees stopped Tavera outside the store and had her wait until police arrived.

Tavera faces a charge of theft for an item over $50 but under $500. She also had two outstanding traffic warrants. Jail records show she was booked into the El Paso County Jail early Saturday and released Saturday afternoon after posting bond, which totaled $728.

A reporter from Channel 9-KTSM who contacted Tavera on Monday quoted her as saying details of the incident were "misconstrued, and it's twisted." She declined further comment to the station, telling them she needed to contact her lawyer.

According to a biography posted online, Tavera attends the University of Texas at El Paso and hopes to start a marketing company to promote fashion designers.

Tavera was also crowned Miss El Paso Teen USA in 2006. Two years later, after winning the Miss El Paso USA pageant, she placed sixth at the Miss Texas USA pageant.

She is listed as an instructor for Laura's Productions, a local modeling company.

Tavera isn't the first beauty pageant winner to be arrested by El Paso police. In April 2009, they arrested Raelene Aguilar, Miss New Mexico USA 2008, in Downtown El Paso on a drunken driving charge. The charge was dropped eight months later because of insufficient evidence.

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.

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